Law Society response to government's full coalition agreement

20 May 2010

Following the publication today of the government's full coalition agreement, Law Society President Robert Heslett said:

"The Society welcomes a number of the proposals set out in the coalition agreement. In particular, we are pleased to see that the government will bring forward plans to introduce a Freedom Bill, bring forward greater safeguards in the DNA database, protect historic freedoms through the defence of trial by jury, provide safeguards against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation, introduce further regulation of CCTV and provide a new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offences. Many of the proposals were included in our own policy manifesto "Delivering Justice" which we published in February. We are also conducting an access to justice review which will review the current legal aid system and offer improvements in the best interests of the public and the profession.

These proposals as a whole would strengthen the 'rule of law' which the Society has spent much time in recent months seeking to uphold. Confirmation that Home Information Packs will be ended is also very welcome, as is the proposal that the Vetting and Barring Scheme will be scaled back to common sense levels.

The Society will scrutinise carefully the other proposals in the coalition agreement particularly in relation to criminal justice. We will want to work constructively with politicians from all parties to ensure that sensible reforms are carried out and that avoid undesirable unintended consequences. We will also want to work very closely with the Government to ensure that the proposed fundamental review of legal aid ensures that the legal aid system is managed and funded as a frontline service as important as health and education".